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UBS achieves top climate change initiative results

UBS is ranked as excellent in its measures to combat climate change and is one of the top 10 companies worldwide in the 2012 Carbon Disclosure Project.

It is wrong to assume that environmental and social issues get pushed into the background in declining markets. According to Liselotte Arni, head of Environmental & Social Risk, clients are increasingly asking for information about UBS's conduct with regard to environmental protection and human rights. These questions are also becoming more central for investors when assessing potential holdings: Erika Karp, head of Global Sector Research, confirms that there is increasing interest in whether investment processes systematically incorporate environmental, social and governance criteria.

Institutional investors launched the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), which is one of the most important sustainability measures for companies. The CDP indices assess transparency and achievement in combating climate change. Overall, UBS is amongst the top 10 companies worldwide and, together with Allianz, heads up the financial sector.

The firm identifies and manages its environmental and social risks and seeks to minimize the negative effects of its business on the environment and society. The global environmental management system of UBS has been ISO 14001-certified since 1999. At the time UBS was the first financial institution to receive such a certification. The firm has reduced its own greenhouse gas emissions by 39% as at the end of 2011 compared with 2004. However, UBS's environmental management goes beyond sustainable operations. The firm offers a series of products and services aimed at promoting sustainability - it has expanded its research in this field and extended its product range of socially responsible investments.